Rope-clasp.



No. 702,2!4. Patented lune l0, I902.

w. n. HULL.

ROPE CLASPL (Applicatiun filed Dec. 28. 1801.:

(No Model.)

rm: Noam: PETERS (fO/PNOYO-umn" wnsumm'on. n. cy

UNITED STATES WVILLIAM N. HUliL, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

ROPE-CLAS P.

SPECIFICATION fanning part of Letters PatentNo. 702,214, dated June 10,1902.

Application filed December 28, 1901. Serial Ilo. 87,580. (No models) ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM N. HULL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rope-Clasps; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to clasping or gripping devices, particularly ofthe type generally known as rope-clasps and designed for a variety ofuses.

To this end the invention contemplates a simple, effective, and novelform of ropeclasp or equivalent device, comprising simple and practicalmeans for securely gripping at any desired point a rope or equivalentconnection and also embodying novel means for effecting a securecoupling connection with the end of arope or flexible member which isdesigned for the clasp or device to be fitted thereto as an attachment.

In carrying out the above general objects the invention is not onlyuseful in any way that an ordinary rope-clasp may be employed, but alsopossesses special utility as a stocktie, in which the rope is fastenedaround the horns or neckof the stock; also, for handy.

use in connection with swings, hammocks, clothes-lines, trolleys,fire-escapes, binders for loads, and the like, for well-ropes, as wellas for such other uses as may be desired or required.

From a structural standpointthe invention contemplates a constructionwhich is materially stronger than the rope, involves no springs, rivets,screws, or bolts, and is easily and quickly manipulated.

With these and many other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts which will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, andclaimed.

The structural features of the clasp may necessarily be modified to someextent without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; buta preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- 7 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rope-clasp constructed inaccordance with the present invention and showing a rope end whosestrands are untwisted to illustrate the method of coupling the end ofthe rope with the clasp. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the clasp, showingthe same not only coupled or fitted to one end of the rope, but claspedupon the body portion of a rope. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the clasp, showing the binding member or nut turned into engagementwith the rope within the hook and also showing the locking-nut inlooking engagement with the binding member or nut.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

The clasping part of the device includes an engaging member A in theform ofa hook, preferably of the conventional U shape, and designed totake over or receive therein the rope to be clasped or held by thedevice. The said engaging member or hook A is provided at its inner sidewith a gripping element a. This gripping element is designed to afiord apreventing slipping of the rope within the hook and is preferably in theform of a projectin g rib disposed centrally between the side edges ofthe hook A and extending longitudinally of the hook and following thecurvature thereof. 7

The engaging member or hook A of the clasp or device is carried at oneend of a main claspstem D and is preferably formed integrally therewithand lies within the longitudinal plane of the stem, although slightvariations in this structural. feature may obviously be resorted to.'The main clasp-stem D, in addition to the engaging member or hook A, isprovided with separate right and left threaded portions R and L,respectively, the portion R of the stem being cut with right handthreads and the portion L being cut with lefthand threads,for thepurposes to be explained. The right hand threaded portion R of theclasp-stem is preferably disposed nearest the engaging member or hookand is designed to receive thereon the binding member B. This bindingmember is in the form of a sleeve-nut, having interior threads b,engaging and match ing the right-hand threads B, so that the memgrippingsurface or projection for positively ber B may run toward the engaginghook A by the ordinary right-hand turning thereof. The sleeve-nutconstituting the binding member B is preferably of a cylindrical formwith the exterior ribbed grip-surface b and is further provided at oneend with an annular biting-flange 12 which biting-flange is adapted tomeet and preferably overlap the point of the hook A, besides bitingdirectly into the rope held within the said hook A upon the grippingelement or rib a thereof. By reason of the disposition of the hook Awith refer- I lindrical sleeve,with interior threads c,matching andengaging the left-hand threads L of the stem, so as to work in acontrary direction to the binding-nut B and exert the influence andaction of a jam or locking nut to secure the not B against looseningwhen moved against the rope. The locking-nut O, with the exception ofthe disposition of its threads, is preferably a duplicate of thebinding-nut B and, like the latter, is provided with an exterior ribbedgrip-surface c.

To provide for connecting the clasp with a rope end, such as H, there ispreferably associated with the clasp-stem D a hollow globularcoupling-basket E, preferably having a swivel connection F with the endof the stem opposite the engaging hook. The said hollow globularcoupling-basket E is also provided in the body portion thereof with aplurality of strand-holes e, a rope-opening e, and a receiving-collar eThrough the collar 6 and the opening e is inserted the rope end H, whichis first untwisted for a suitable dis tance, so that the individualstrands may be passed outward through the strand-holes .e and knotted.After the individual strands have been thus knotted the knottedterminals are pushed back through the holes e into the basket, and atthe same time the rope is twisted, so as to get the full strength andbenefit of the torsion. This provides a secure and effective couplingfor connecting the clasp with the rope end. g

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, use, and manyadvantages of the herein-described rope-clasp will be readily apparentwithout further description, and it will be understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe made within the scope of the invention without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is

1. A clasp of the character described, comprising a stem having acoupling device at one end and an engaging hook at the other, a bindingmember adjustable upon the stem and provided at one end with abiting-flange adapted to work over and past the nose of the hook, and alocking member also adjustable upon the said stem and adapted to workagainst theend of the binding member opposite the biting-fiauge of thelatter.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a stem having separateright and left threaded portions, and at one end an engaging hookprovided with an inner gripping element, a sleeve binding-nut engagingone of the threaded portions of the stem and provided at its outer endwith an annular bitingflange designed, in its active position, tooverlap and receive within itself the nose of the engaging hook, and asleeve lock-nut engaging the other threaded portion of the stem andworking against the inner end of the binding-nut.

3. A device of the class described comprising a threaded stem providedwith means for engaging and clasping the rope, and a separate hollowglobular coupling-basket receiving and swiveled directly on one end ofthe threaded stern, said coupling-basket being provided with arope-receiving opening alined with the threaded stem, and also with aplurality of side strand-holes to permit of the knotting of theindividual strands of a rope end exterior to the basket after theinsertion of said rope end therein.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 100 in presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM N. HULL.

Witnesses:

W. H. WooLF, C. F. BEARD.

